Aaron, Look Out!

It was bound to happen eventually.

Since September 27, 1992 when Brett Favre started for the first time (v. Pittsburgh for the injured Don Majkowski) there have only been three men starting at quarterback for the Green Bay Packers.

Favre, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn (twice - once for a concussed Rodger versus New England and in the meaningless 2011 last regular season home game against the Detroit Lions).

This next Sunday, barring a Reggie White kind of healing from taking place, the fourth man, likely Seneca Wallace, will take the first offensive snap for the Pack.

That's a remarkable run, and hopefully the Wallace era will be brief before Rodgers is well enough to return.

Amidst the hang-wringing, the worry, and the consternation of fantasy team owners - it is worthy of reflection how amazing it is that the Packers have essentially used two men at the game's most important spot since September 27, 1992.  The Bears have had 26!

I was born in the midst of the Packer dynasty - but came of age on the downhill side of those glory days.  In the backyard, I pretended to be the likes of Jerry Tagge, Scott Hunter, John Hadl, David Whitehurst, and Lynn Dickey.  All had various levels of success, they were NFL QBs after all, but those were mostly mediocre years for the Green and Gold.

In 1989, the Majik Man - Don Majkowski - under coach Lindy Infante got the team to 10-6 and it seemed like it was the greatest thing ever.  The next several years, not so much.

When Majik went down with an ankle injury on my birthday in 1992 - I was in front of the TV in Janesville, Wisconsin recently unemployed and looking for some encouraging developments in the game against the Cincinnati Bengals.  In came this kid the Packers obtained from Atlanta.  (Majik never played again for the Packers, even when he recovered.)

A kid with the unpronounceable name Favre.  It's FARve.  Let's just say by the time he retired everyone knew his name.  He won the game on a TD pass to Kitrick Taylor with time running out for a 24-23 victory.

I didn't know what a run was starting.  I've enjoyed every game.

Watching the Monday nighter against the Bears Monday night the sack of Rodgers didn't look terrible, but the replay showed his shoulder pounding a dent in the Lambeau turf.  The Packers, no coincidence, fell to the Bears.

I hope Aaron gets well soon and back on the field.  But, if he can't and the rest of the season becomes a perilous uphill climb... before you start throwing shoes and brick at the TV Packer fans... take a moment to reflect on the amazing run and the ability to watch virtually every game for 21 years knowing your favorite team has a good opportunity to win.